Maria froze during her job interview when the hiring manager looked confused. She'd practiced her answers perfectly, but something felt off. Later, she realized the problem: "I am having five years experience" sounded like a direct translation from her native language. One small change—switching to natural English patterns—transformed how people perceived her fluency.
The Contraction & Natural Flow Method
The Problem: Most learners translate word-for-word from their native language, creating stiff, formal-sounding English.
The Fix: Master contractions and natural speech patterns
Apply This Today:
Instead of: "I do not know" → Say: "I don't know" or "No idea"
Instead of: "It is very difficult" → Say: "It's pretty tough"
Instead of: "I will go to the store" → Say: "I'll grab something from the store"
Pro Tip: Listen to how native speakers drop words and blend sounds. "Going to" becomes "gonna," "want to" becomes "wanna" in casual speech.
Start with just ONE contraction per conversation and gradually add more.
"I used to sound like a textbook. Now my American colleagues say I sound completely natural!" - Ahmed, software engineer
Reply and tell me: What's one phrase you always translate directly from your language?
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ICMI
That's all for today! Catch you in the next newsletter. Until then, feel free to test your skills with some fun quizzes on my blog.
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Keep practicing, keep improving! Raghavendra M (ClipYourEnglish)